42" mower deck repair on a 1993 Cub 1641

kellycaudle · Mar 20, 2023

I rebuilt my two spindles by getting new bearings and oil seals. I thoroughly cleaned everything including the grease holes and zerks. The bearing races where in great shape. I hand packed the new bearings and put them in and installed the seals. I installed the spindles with the blades. I pumped and lot of grease into the top zerk fittings. Ran it briefly then shot more grease. After a little bit one of the spindle s starting smoking and when I looked the grease was boiling out once i loosened the main nut on the blade. Any advice or is there a good spindle rebuild video out there I could refer to? thank you!!

Doug Rusk · Mar 20, 2023

Sounds like you got way too much grease in the spindles for one thing tho there could be other problems as well. Perhaps you over tightned one or both spindles.....

mgonitzke · Mar 20, 2023

One seal is supposed to be installed backwards so excess grease can escape. You also likely over-greased the bearings. Did the spindle spin freely after reassembly?

kellycaudle · Mar 22, 2023

Doug Rusk said:
Sounds like you got way too much grease in the spindles for one thing tho there could be other problems as well. Perhaps you over tightned one or both spindles.....

I tightened the nut on the blade tight enough to secure the blade.

kellycaudle · Mar 22, 2023

mgonitzke said:
One seal is supposed to be installed backwards so excess grease can escape. You also likely over-greased the bearings. Did the spindle spin freely after reassembly?

No they were tight after I installed the nut on the bottom to secure the blades. I figured they were tight because they were new and needed to set it.

mgonitzke · Mar 22, 2023

kellycaudle said:
No they were tight after I installed the nut on the bottom to secure the blades. I figured they were tight because they were new and needed to set it.

The spacer in between the bearings is worn. The spindles must spin freely by hand. I'd order a package of 3/4" ID x 0.010" thick shims from McMaster-Carr and add them in addition to the existing spacer such that the spindle turns freely but does not wobble.